Hand brake hack

The round black things at the bottom. Hope this helps with the where to put posts problem.

Moderator: Board Moderators

Post Reply
User avatar
MetBlue
Senior Poster
Posts: 1857
Joined: Sat Mar 24, 2018 21:00
Model: Elite 74 & Excel 92 (SEish))
Colour: Metalic Blue
Year: 1974
Location: Northampton

Hand brake hack

Post by MetBlue »

The hand brake on my car's worked fine, but with nearly 150000 miles behind it, the slightest tap on the button released the brake. Normally not a problem, except my drive is on a slope and on two occasions I've been working inside the car, only to find my elbow striking the button and I'm rolling backwards. :shock: .
After removing hand brake from car ( only 2 bolts plus cable), the rack and pawl are both accessible with a file to clean out / sharpen up.
The pawl is as soft as putty and on my car was very rounded at the bottom and the leading edge was slopping the wrong way. 30 seconds with the file cut the "saw tooth " you see below in and at least on the bench, it's much improved. ( sorry - forgot to photograph the before situation)
Image

Tony
What goes together.... Must come apart.
Top
User avatar
rbgosling
Senior Poster
Posts: 2020
Joined: Sun Jul 04, 2010 22:55
Model: Lotus Excel SE
Colour: Midnight Blue
Year: 1990
Location: Rugby

Re: Hand brake hack

Post by rbgosling »

That's what happens when POs pull the handbrake on routinely without pressing the button in!
"Farmer" Richard

1990 Lotus Excel SE (Lilith)
2022 MG MG5 EV (not due to be a classic for quite a few years...)
2011 Nissan Leaf (Ragly - EV pioneer, must be due to be a classic one day)
Top
Pete Boole
Senior Poster
Posts: 4079
Joined: Tue Apr 04, 2006 21:28
Model: Elite
Colour: Monaco White
Year: 1974
Location: Nottingham

Re: Hand brake hack

Post by Pete Boole »

Time to convert to electric handbrake Tony! :D

Pete
Top
User avatar
Hawaiis0
Senior Poster
Posts: 4588
Joined: Sun Jun 30, 2013 18:39
Model: '86 SA; '89 SA '78 Elite 504
Colour: BRG; Dirty White
Year: 1986
Location: West Oxfordshire

Re: Hand brake hack

Post by Hawaiis0 »

Pete Boole wrote: Thu Mar 09, 2023 16:01 Time to convert to electric handbrake Tony! :D

Pete
Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.

Our Tiguan rolled across the road due to a electric failure.
Nothing is fool proof. Fools are clever!
Top
User avatar
MetBlue
Senior Poster
Posts: 1857
Joined: Sat Mar 24, 2018 21:00
Model: Elite 74 & Excel 92 (SEish))
Colour: Metalic Blue
Year: 1974
Location: Northampton

Re: Hand brake hack

Post by MetBlue »

Pete Boole wrote: Thu Mar 09, 2023 16:01 Time to convert to electric handbrake Tony! :D

Pete
You beat me to it Stu. Friday afternoon work of the devil.
Tony
What goes together.... Must come apart.
Top
Pete Boole
Senior Poster
Posts: 4079
Joined: Tue Apr 04, 2006 21:28
Model: Elite
Colour: Monaco White
Year: 1974
Location: Nottingham

Re: Hand brake hack

Post by Pete Boole »

I thought that might get your attention!! :lol: :lol: :lol:

Pete
Top
User avatar
MetBlue
Senior Poster
Posts: 1857
Joined: Sat Mar 24, 2018 21:00
Model: Elite 74 & Excel 92 (SEish))
Colour: Metalic Blue
Year: 1974
Location: Northampton

Re: Hand brake hack

Post by MetBlue »

Electric Handbrakes. Second only to touch screens in modern cars :roll: :roll: :roll:

How on earth did the motor industry get those past the 'Elf'n'safety police ? You can't even touch you phone without breaking the law, but having half of the car controls on a touch screen is perfectly acceptable it seems - Madness !!!!

Tony
What goes together.... Must come apart.
Top
Pete Boole
Senior Poster
Posts: 4079
Joined: Tue Apr 04, 2006 21:28
Model: Elite
Colour: Monaco White
Year: 1974
Location: Nottingham

Re: Hand brake hack

Post by Pete Boole »

MetBlue wrote: Sat Mar 11, 2023 10:18 Electric Handbrakes. Second only to touch screens in modern cars :roll: :roll: :roll:

How on earth did the motor industry get those past the 'Elf'n'safety police ? You can't even touch you phone without breaking the law, but having half of the car controls on a touch screen is perfectly acceptable it seems - Madness !!!!

Tony
My thoughts exactly!!

Pete
Top
User avatar
Alan_M
Senior Poster
Posts: 1482
Joined: Sat Aug 12, 2017 01:17
Model: Excel SE, Excel SA, Elan SE
Colour: Red, red, white
Location: South Wales

Re: Hand brake hack

Post by Alan_M »

MetBlue wrote: Sat Mar 11, 2023 10:18 Electric Handbrakes. Second only to touch screens in modern cars :roll: :roll: :roll:

How on earth did the motor industry get those past the 'Elf'n'safety police ? You can't even touch you phone without breaking the law, but having half of the car controls on a touch screen is perfectly acceptable it seems - Madness !!!!

Tony
Totally concur !!!
Top
User avatar
Hawaiis0
Senior Poster
Posts: 4588
Joined: Sun Jun 30, 2013 18:39
Model: '86 SA; '89 SA '78 Elite 504
Colour: BRG; Dirty White
Year: 1986
Location: West Oxfordshire

Re: Hand brake hack

Post by Hawaiis0 »

James Bond got away with it in his M5

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBlOc79L0So

sorry for the adds
Nothing is fool proof. Fools are clever!
Top
Marten
Senior Poster
Posts: 200
Joined: Tue Aug 10, 2021 20:38
Model: excel
Colour: red
Year: 1985
Location: NL
Contact:
Contact Marten

Re: Hand brake hack

Post by Marten »

MetBlue wrote: Sat Mar 11, 2023 10:18 Electric Handbrakes. Second only to touch screens in modern cars :roll: :roll: :roll:

How on earth did the motor industry get those past the 'Elf'n'safety police ? You can't even touch you phone without breaking the law, but having half of the car controls on a touch screen is perfectly acceptable it seems - Madness !!!!

Tony
And that's the good part, the other half of the controls are operated by a computer without your consent
Top
Post Reply

Return to “Wheels and Tyres”